# @viceasia on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CsDbBTgsjDH
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/75628650-viceasia-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/3cc657e924.jpg
- **Posted:** 2023-05-10T07:00:41.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** VICE Asia (@viceasia) — https://gondola.cc/viceasia

## Caption

On Sunday, a reported 8,000 couples from 150 countries participated in a massive joint wedding ceremony both online and in-person in Gapyeong, South Korea.
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It’s an annual event held by the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, a religious movement more commonly known as the Unification Church or the “Moonies.” Founded in South Korea in 1954 by the late Moon Sun-myung, the organization has been controversial since its global expansion in the 1970s. It’s been accused of political affiliations, forced marriages, and even links to Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe’s assassination.⁠
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The group’s mass wedding ceremony is one of its most well-known traditions, drawing significant media attention every year. This year, the ceremony was presided over by the founder’s widow and current leader, Han Hak-ja.⁠
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To be part of “the Holy Marriage Blessing Ceremony,” one must go through the designated matching process that includes educational courses and health exams.⁠
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📷: Photo courtesy of FFWPU, AFP/ Getty Images

#UnificationChurch #Moonies #Wedding

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 3,713
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 166

## Credits

No public credits are recorded here. This does not identify who made the post.

## Tags

moonies, wedding, unificationchurch

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